Often with the Press, a result which is outstanding is well covered but, to the athlete it may not be what they feel was the most significant in their career. Lasse Viren, the Finnish Policeman, who won the 5 & 10k’s in the 1972 and 1976 Olympics, points to a certain win as a Junior. Dave Bedford, the last UK athlete to break the 10,000 World record (27:30.80 13th of July 1973) and, was the best Junior & then Senior in the International cross- country Championships (The Old World’ event) felt his race, before his 10k track World record, when he ran 27:47.56 at Portsmouth, 0n the 10th of July 1971, was more significant than his World record run!
LASSE VIREN
“ Of course the Olympic Gold medals were very valuable ones but a very important victory for me was when in 1969 I won the
match between Finland and Sweden. I won the match for Finland in the 5000 as a junior and it was the first time I had represented Finland”
DAVID BEDFORD
“I t was 2 years before the World record, It was at Portsmouth for the AAA’s title and in a match V France at the same time I ran 27:47.0, On the cinder track, which turned to sand very quick so, to do 27:47 that day was probably a better run than the World record time of 27:30, on an all weather tartan track I remember finishing and my feet were shredded. With blisters. It took me ages to start running again, because it was so bad.. I won by a significant margin. That race in 1971 was the race that really got me noticed as someone who had the potential to run faster. If I Had nor got all the injury problems I probably would have run 30 seconds faster in the right conditions. 27.30 was the fastest I was able to do”